Women's Tennis

Sonoma State’s Prince retires

As Seawolves’ coach, she led program to NCAAs 11 years in a row

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bill Fusco has announced that Sonoma State University women's tennis coach Tracey Prince has officially retired and a permanent replacement will be named soon. Prince, SSU's head coach since 1996, took a leave of absence this past year due to family commitments.

Said Fusco, "Tracey's work in reviving and maintaining the women's tennis program at Sonoma State University was exemplary."

Prince's career at Sonoma State was highlighted by a school record 11 consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, from 1997 to 2007.

In Prince’s first season in 1997, she resurrected the women’s tennis program at SSU and promptly led them into the NCAA championships. SSU defeated UC Riverside in the West Regionals before falling to Barry University in the first round of the national tournament. Still, the team finished the year ranked 27th in the country, an impressive debut season for Prince and her players.

Postseason appearances would become commonplace over the next decade for the women's tennis team, as they qualified for regionals in each of her first 11 seasons. Prince's teams were consistently ranked nationally, achieving their highest ranking in 2000 of 14th nationally, with a 15-7 record. That season they went 7-1 in CCAA.

In 14 seasons at the helm, Prince compiled a 158-141 overall record. She was an impressive 103-82 against NCAA Division II opponents.

During her tenure, Prince coached 24 All-CCAA performers, including 15 who earned first team honors.

Prior to SSU, Prince also established an NCAA Division II women’s tennis program at Cal State San Bernardino in 1996, after serving as assistant tennis coach at Cal Poly Pomona with Dr. Ann Lebedeff for three seasons. At Pomona, Prince helped lead the Broncos to the NCAA Division II Championship in 1992, a third place finish in 1993, and the runner-up position the following year.

A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Prince also coached at MIT and taught professionally in Massachussetts and Southern California.

Assistant coach Joaquin Lopez served as the interim head coach for the 2010-11 season, guiding the team to a 12-9 record.